Betty J. Young Miller

The family of Betty J. Young Miller, 90, of Muskogee, Oklahoma, announces her peaceful passing on June 25, 2026. While our hearts grieve her loss, we are thankful for the ninety years of faith, love, kindness, and service she shared with everyone around her. Betty was born on June 5, 1936, in Augusta, Georgia, to Robert Watson Clark and Katie Lee Maddox Davis. She was raised in a Christian home where she developed the faith that guided her throughout her life. On October 31, 1952, she married Dennie “Rusty” Young, and together they built a home centered on faith, family, and unconditional love, sharing nearly thirty-nine years of marriage until Rusty’s passing on April 2, 1991. Later in life, Betty married John Miller, who also preceded her in death. If there was one thing everyone knew about Betty, it was her love for children. To generations of kids, she wasn’t simply Betty. She was “Nanny.” For nearly thirty years she cared for children in her home, where every child was welcomed with love and treated like family. There always seemed to be room in her lap for one more, and countless children found comfort, encouragement, and a second home in her care. Long after those children had grown and started families of their own, many still lovingly called her “Nanny.” There could be no greater testament to the kind of woman she was. Betty never stopped looking for ways to care for others. Even after retirement, she chose to work at Hilldale Elementary and later handed out samples at Homeland Grocery Store simply because she loved being around people. Whether she was serving lunch to students or samples to customers, she had a gift for making people feel welcome. Her home reflected that same spirit. If you stopped by for a visit, she was going to make sure you had something to eat before you left. It didn’t matter what was on the menu. Every meal somehow tasted a little better because it came from Betty’s kitchen and was served with love. And no one ever left her home empty-handed. Whether it was leftovers, a thoughtful gift, or something she thought you could use, Betty always found a way to send people home with a little piece of her love. She loved spending Saturdays searching yard sales for hidden treasures and found just as much joy in giving those treasures away as she did in finding them. Her family still smiles when they remember her proudly saying, “Those are Dillard’s,” because if Betty gave it to you, in her mind it was worthy of the very best. She also loved working puzzles. There always seemed to be a puzzle spread across her table waiting for the next piece. Once it was finished, she would carefully glue it, frame it, and more often than not, give it away to someone she loved. Even while living in a nursing home, Betty believed God still had work for her to do. She often said, “God has me here to take care of and look out for these people,” and she lived those words every day. She checked on fellow residents, prayed with them, encouraged them, and spoke up for those who could not speak for themselves. She believed everyone deserved kindness, dignity, and compassion, and as long as she was able, she continued looking after those around her. Taking care of people wasn’t just something Betty did. It was who she was. Betty was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Dennie “Rusty” Young; her husband, John Miller; her son, Russell Young; her daughter, Karen Cartwright; her parents, Robert Watson Clark and Katie Lee Maddox Davis; her sisters, Louise Drawdy and Elizabeth Swearingen; and her brothers, Robert W. Clark Jr., Emory Clark, and Rev. Charles Clark. She is survived by her children, Gordon Young, Angela Culpepper, Joseph Young, and Cynthia Rose; her sisters, Anna Kate Moody and Nina Hebbard; along with numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, extended family members, dear friends, and the countless children who will forever remember her simply as “Nanny.” A graveside service celebrating Betty’s life will be held Wednesday, July 1, 2026, at 2:30 p.m. at Fort Gibson National Cemetery. The family would like to express their heartfelt gratitude to the physicians, nurses, and staff at Saint Francis Hospital Muskogee for the compassionate care and kindness shown to Betty during her final days. Though our hearts are saddened by her passing, we rejoice in knowing Betty is now home with her Lord and Savior. She will be remembered for the love she gave so freely, the children she helped raise, the meals she lovingly prepared, the prayers she faithfully offered, and the countless lives she touched through simple acts of kindness. Her greatest legacy is not found in the things she left behind, but in the people she loved, the people she cared for, and the many hearts that will forever know her simply as “Nanny.”

Betty J. Young Miller

June 5, 1936 - June 25, 2026